Pause assembly for showerheads

Abstract

A showerhead having a control assembly is disclosed. The showerhead includes a head portion operably connected to a showerhead engine, the engine including a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the head portion and a handle fluidly connected to a water source and defining a flow path between the water source and the head portion. The control assembly is positioned within the flow path of the handle and is operable to vary a flow volume from the water source to the head portion.

We claim: 
     
       1. A showerhead comprising:
 a head portion operably connected to a showerhead engine comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the head portion; 
 a handle configured to be fluidly connected to a water source, the handle defining a flow path between the water source and the head portion; and 
 a pause assembly positioned within the flow path of the handle and operable to vary a flow volume from the water source to the head portion, the pause assembly comprising:
 a valve housing received within the flow path and defining a valve cavity in fluid communication with the flow path and the head portion; 
 an actuator positioned between the handle and the valve housing and movable in an arcuate path along an outer surface of the valve housing from a first position to a second position, the actuator defining a slot extending lengthwise along a longitudinal direction of the pause assembly; 
 a valve operably connected to the actuator and received within the valve cavity, wherein as the actuator moves from the first position to the second position, the valve rotates within the valve cavity from an open position to a closed position; and 
 a valve driver positioned between the actuator and the valve and configured to convert arcuate motion of the actuator into a rotational movement of the valve; 
 wherein a portion of the valve driver is received in the slot and slides within the slot in the longitudinal direction of the pause assembly as the actuator moves from the first position to the second position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The showerhead of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a ball valve comprising:
 a first flow path; and 
 a second flow path; wherein 
 in the open positon, the first flow path is fluidly aligned with the flow path and in fluid communication with the head portion and the water source; and 
 in the closed positon, the second flow path is fluidly aligned with the flow path and in fluid communication with the head portion and the water source. 
 
     
     
       3. The showerhead of  claim 2 , wherein the second flow path has a reduced diameter relative to, and is oriented perpendicular to, the first flow path. 
     
     
       4. The showerhead of  claim 1 , wherein the valve driver is removably attached to the valve. 
     
     
       5. The showerhead of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve driver includes a disc that is rotatable about its central axis; 
 the portion of the valve driver received in the slot comprises a boss laterally offset from the central axis of the disc and extending outwards and upwards from a top surface of the disc; and 
 the valve driver includes a keying feature extending from a bottom surface of the valve driver and shaped to engage the valve. 
 
     
     
       6. The showerhead of  claim 1 , wherein
 the valve driver is rotatably seated in the outer surface of the valve housing and an aperture is defined through a central region of the valve driver. 
 
     
     
       7. The showerhead of  claim 6 , wherein the valve driver is coupled to the actuator such that movement of the actuator along the outer surface of the valve housing causes the valve driver to rotate relative to the actuator and the valve housing. 
     
     
       8. The showerhead of  claim 6 , further comprising a fastener extending through the aperture and fastening the valve driver to the valve. 
     
     
       9. A showerhead comprising:
 a plurality of nozzles; 
 a handle configured to be fluidly connected to a water source, the handle defining a flow path between the water source and the plurality of nozzles; and 
 a pause assembly positioned at least partially within the flow path of the handle and operable to vary the flow of fluid from the water source to the plurality of nozzles, the pause assembly comprising:
 a valve housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; 
 a valve assembly positioned at least partially within the valve housing, the valve assembly movable between a plurality of positions to vary fluid flow through the valve housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; and 
 an actuator movably coupled to the valve housing such that movement of the actuator relative to the valve housing moves the valve assembly between the plurality of positions, the actuator rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the handle to move the valve assembly in a different type of motion, the actuator defining a slot extending lengthwise along a longitudinal direction of the pause assembly; 
 wherein a portion of the valve assembly is received in the slot and slides within the slot in the longitudinal direction of the pause assembly as the actuator moves the valve assembly between the plurality of positions. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The showerhead of  claim 9 , wherein the valve assembly comprises:
 a valve positioned with the valve housing; and 
 a valve driver coupled to the valve, the valve driver actuating movement of the valve upon movement of the actuator. 
 
     
     
       11. The showerhead of  claim 10 , wherein the valve driver converts a rotational movement of the actuator into a different rotational movement of the valve. 
     
     
       12. The showerhead of  claim 10 , wherein the valve driver is rotatably seated in an outer surface of the valve housing and an aperture is defined through a central region of the valve driver. 
     
     
       13. The showerhead of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the valve housing includes an arcuate outer surface; 
 the actuator includes a curved apron that slides along the outer surface of the valve housing; and 
 the valve driver is positioned at least partially between the valve housing and the actuator. 
 
     
     
       14. The showerhead of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the valve assembly further comprises a valve seal positioned at least partially between the valve and the valve housing to maintain a fluid tight seal between the valve and the valve housing as the valve is repositioned by the valve driver; and 
 the valve comprises a ball valve. 
 
     
     
       15. The showerhead of  claim 14 , further comprising a valve retainer to position and secure the valve within the valve housing, the valve retainer including a hollow main body defining a flow lumen therethrough. 
     
     
       16. A showerhead comprising:
 a plurality of nozzles; 
 a housing configured to be fluidly connected to a water source and defining a flow path between the water source and the plurality of nozzles; 
 a valve assembly positioned at least partially within the flow path and movable between a plurality of positions to vary fluid flow from the water source to the plurality of nozzles, the valve assembly including a ball valve; and 
 a control assembly coupled with the valve assembly to move the valve assembly between positions, the control assembly operable to convert a first motion of the control assembly into a different second motion of the valve assembly, the control assembly comprising:
 a valve driver coupled to the ball valve, wherein movement of the valve driver causes corresponding movement of the ball valve; and 
 an actuator coupled to the valve driver, wherein movement of the actuator causes rotational movement of the valve driver, the actuator defining a slot extending lengthwise along a longitudinal direction of the valve assembly; 
 
 wherein a portion of the valve driver is received in the slot and slides within the slot in the longitudinal direction of the valve assembly as the control assembly moves the valve assembly between positions. 
 
     
     
       17. The showerhead of  claim 16 , wherein:
 an aperture is defined through a central region of the valve driver; and 
 the aperture is surrounded by a ledge recessed from a top surface of the valve driver and configured to receive a seal. 
 
     
     
       18. The showerhead of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the valve driver includes a disc that is rotatable about its central axis; and 
 the portion of the valve driver received in the slot comprises a boss laterally offset from the central axis of the disc and extending outwards and upwards from a top surface of the disc. 
 
     
     
       19. The showerhead of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the housing defines a handle, the flow path defined within the handle; and 
 the valve assembly is positioned within the handle. 
 
     
     
       20. The showerhead of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the handle includes an aperture defined through a wall of the handle; and 
 the control assembly includes a knob extending through the aperture of the handle.